Ausmus named new Astros manager

Brad Ausmus said all the right things as the former Houston Astros catcher was introduced last weekend as the team’s next manager. Ausmus played in Houston across multiple stints; the first from 1997-98 and the second from 2001-08. He replaces Joe Espada, who was fired Oct.14. “I’m very excited to be back with Houston,” said Ausmus. “This is a place I spent 10 years as a player and looking back on my career, if I picture myself as a player, it’s wearing an Astros uniform.” If it all feels a bit too perfect of a homecoming, that is because Ausmus was perfectly lukewarm in his two precious major league stints. He went a combined 386-422 with the Detroit Tigers from 2014-17, winning an AL Central title in his first year. He then went an anemic 72-90 in 2019 during his lone season with the Los Angeles Angels. When asked why fans should consider the third time to be the charm, Ausmus pointed to his recent role as New York Yankees bench coach, a position he served in from 2024-26.

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